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There have been a lot of really great games to hit the shelves lately. Whether you play your games on PC, Xbox, or Playstation you are sure to find a bunch of great titles to fill your gaming needs.  We’ve decided to cover just a few of the games coming soon in this Fall Gaming Review.  Some are annual power houses,  a long awaited returning favorite, and even some new blood.

EA Sports – Madden, FIFA, NHL, NBA Live

First up is the annual EA Sports release of their flagship titles.  The release of Madden is coming first on 8/25, shortly followed by the others.  You are sure to see some improved features, updated graphics, and likely the best authenticity in the business.  If you are looking for originality however you are looking in the wrong place.  EA has found the magic potion of producing essentially the same game for the last 10 years and still making a killing every year.  The replay value is what you can bank on when you play one of these new titles.  There will be plenty of people slaving over these games for hours, no months, just to live out their dreams of bringing home a championship.  Available on Xbox, Playstation, and PC.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition

Gears has been remastered for the Xbox one! The landmark original Gears of War has been completely rebuilt from the ground up in full 1080P. Every aspect of the game including lighting, environments, characters, and cinematic scenes have been  recreated.   Includes all original 19 maps and six competitive modes including Team Death Match, King of the Hill and a new 2v2 mode.  Microsoft has taken a cue from 343 Industries approach by including all 4 Gears of Wars into one, similar to Halo Master Chief Edition.  Lets just hope it won’t be plagued with issues in the few days of the launch.  Available 8/25 on Xbox only.

LEGO Dimensions

Arguably one of the most anticipated games of the fall season.  LEGO Dimensions is a truly unique video game, for kids and adults (big kids).  For the first time ever, characters from all over the LEGO universe are joining forces to battle in worlds outside their own.  Here’s How It Works:  1. Build your mini figure heroes  2. Fire up the game
3. Assemble bricks into a LEGO gateway and play. It’s that easy!  Team up with accidental allies, journey to amazing worlds, and strive to defeat the evil.  You can expect your favorite characters and some new never before seen in the LEGO universe, Marty McFly (Back to the Future), The Doctor (Doctor Who), Homer Simpson, and Legolas (Lord of the Rings) just to name a few.  Check HERE for the complete list of expansions due at launch.  Available 9/27 on Xbox, Playstation, and Wii U.

BONUS GAME

Rockband 4

The triumphant return of the beloved Rockband is almost upon us.  It’s been 5 years since gamers have been able to put down their controllers and lay down some sick rifs to their favorite tunes.  The ultimate party game has returned with a brand new list of bands that are sure to keep you jamming.  The Fender inspired guitar bundle is $129 and the full bundle including guitar, drums, and microphone are gonna set you back $249.  Well worth the investment if it will be anything like its predecessors. Available 10/6 on Xbox and Playstation.

With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the time to start stocking up on all those nerdy delights for your gamer loved ones.  So on this Holiday Gaming Review we run down the list of up coming releases that you can grab before the big red guy drops from the chimney.

Halo 5: Guardians

First up is the long awaited return of the Master Chief! ( pause for cheers and applause)  I know that 343 Industries filled the gap with the forgettable collective that was the The Master Chief edition, but it has been 3 years since the last Halo.  As always Halo 5 will be a Xbox One exclusive, sorry Sony fans.  Microsoft is keeping the story specifics under wraps, the company now says the story events set into motion in Halo 5 will forever change the overall universe in “really important ways.”  After the events of Halo 5, the story “will never be the same,” said 343.  Multiplayer is always the most anticipated game mode, you can likely expect some creative re-imagined world, characters, and weapons.  And let’s not forget the soundtrack that is always a highlight and a master piece of it’s own.  Halo 5: Guardians drops October 27th only on Xbox One.  LINK

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider is a genius re-mastering of the franchise.  If you have not yet played the latest Tomb Raider from Square Enix you are missing out.  You can likely find a copy for $20 from your console store or Steam.  The follow up is Rise of the Tomb Raider.  An epic, high-octane action game set in the most beautiful yet hostile environments on earth, Rise of the Tomb Raider delivers a cinematic survival action adventure where you take Lara Croft on her first tomb raiding expedition as she seeks to discover the secret of immortality.  A truly original experience and story line with plenty of opportunities to show your skill.  Expect a much improved multiplayer mode this year, as the last was left lacking.  Rise of the Tomb Raider hits shelves November 10th on Xbox One and 360.  Expect PS4 and PC release in 2016.  LINK

Star War Battlefront

Get ready to be taken to a galaxy far, far away!  Star Wars Battlefront is almost here…about time!  Arguably the most anticipated game this and likely last year, Battlefront is an action shooter that allows the player to switch between first and third person view.  Choose between a Rebel Alliance soldier or an Imperial Stormtrooper as you traverse planets from the Star Wars universe, such as Endor, Hoth, Tatooine and the newly introduced planet of Sullust.  There will also be playable characters from the films, such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Boba Fett.  The game includes cooperative missions which can be played offline but does not have a campaign mode.  The game’s online multiplayer mode supports up to 40 players in one match and 12 multiplayer maps will be available at launch.  Star Wars Battlefront drops November 17th on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.  LINK

Bonus Games

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Oct 23rd

Call of Duty Black Ops III – November 6th

Fallout 4 – November 10th

If you’ve ever uttered the words “Hey Cortana…”, you’re well aware of the other innovative features that Microsoft’s Kinect accessory brings to the world of television and gaming, such as voice command features, automatic recognition, and Skype and Twitch capabilities due to it’s high-quality camera technology. Despite all of these, Microsoft has finally announced the end of Kinect this morning, after several years of trying to perfect and mainstream its use.

When they launched Kinect in 2010 it was considered new and revolutionary technology for the camera to be able to sense depth and interact with its users, even winning them a spot in the Guinness World Records after becoming the fastest-selling consumer device in 2011. The Kinect could recognize bodies in the room and pick out the voice of it’s user over other background noises, making Skype features and gaming communications over  Twitch more reliable and clearer. After tweaking the technology for a couple years, they chose to marry the device with the Xbox One to make it more mainstream. While the device itself wasn’t as popular in the market as they had hoped, the sensor technology has been adopted by other companies to be used in various devices, such as Apples iPhone X, where they shrunk the sensor down and used the same algorithm to enhance it’s Face ID system.

While the death of the Kinect device itself seemed ultimate, the technology behind it is still considered innovative and is being sought out to continue the development of other devices that can use the technology in various forms to bring other new and creative ways for electronics to interact with their surroundings through a natural user interface.